Arsenal are set to accelerate talks to sign a South American in the summer transfer window, with hopes of striking an agreement before the end of July.

The Gunners are in the market to sign a new midfielder in the summer transfer window as they look to improve Mikel Arteta’s squad.

So far, the Gunners are yet to make any serious moves in the transfer market, with Illan Meslier and Christos Tzolis their only first-team additions.

Meslier isn’t going to be coming in as Arsenal’s number one either, so he is merely a backup signing in the goalkeeper department.

As a result, Arsenal need to get a move on in terms of first-team reinforcements, especially if they want to replicate the kind of season they produced last year.

Arsenal pushing ahead with midfielder move

via Reuters

According to a report from talkSPORT, Arsenal are set to accelerate talks to sign Newcastle United captain Bruno Guimaraes in the summer transfer window.

The Gunners have made the Brazilian midfielder their priority signing for the summer transfer window, and they are hoping to strike an agreement before the end of the month.

The Gunners are prepared to pay over £70 million for Bruno Guimaraes, who has broadly agreed personal terms with the North London club.

Three offers have already been placed by Arsenal, who appear insistent on getting their man.

The Magpies will be under no serious pressure to sell their captain after selling Sandro Tonali and Anthony Gordon for significant fees.

Another forward on the agenda

Arsenal are also working on bringing a new forward to the club in the summer transfer window.

The Gunners are believed to be interested in signing Atletico Madrid forward Julian Alvarez, while they are also pursuing Real Madrid’s Vinicius Junior.

After a slow start to the window, it appears the Gunners are now making some serious moves in the market.

If Alvarez, Vinicius and Guimaraes, who has been described as ‘elite’, arrive through the door by the end of the window, that’ll be a phenomenal set of signings for the North London club.

Chelsea are eyeing a shock move to sign Brentford star Jordan Henderson, according to Fabrizio Romano.

The Blues have had a busy summer window so far, bringing in Geovany Quenda, Emmanuel Emegha, Marco Palestra, and Morgan Rogers for new manager Xabi Alonso, while Alejandro Garnacho, Andrey Santos, Marc Cucurella, and Tyrique George have all left.

But Alonso is keen to add more experience to his squad, and they have now identified the former Liverpool captain as a top target.

Chelsea Moving for Henderson

IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters/Brett Davis

According to Romano, Chelsea are leading the race to sign Jordan Henderson as their next midfielder in a surprise deal.

The England international, who was part of the Three Lions squad at the World Cup this summer, has been granted the freedom to leave the Bees on a free transfer during this summer window, after becoming surplus to requirements for Keith Andrews.

Several Premier League clubs are understood to be keen on the 36-year-old, but the former Sunderland man is believed to be open to a move to Stamford Bridge to continue playing at the highest level.

The move comes in the same window that the Blues failed to complete a deal for Sunderland midfield general Granit Xhaka, after being priced out of a deal.

The Swiss star was a top target but the Black Cats had no interest in selling their captain after just 12 months, and Xhaka has since agreed to stay on at the Stadium of Light. Now, Chelsea are looking towards Henderson as an experienced head who can provide competition and depth in central midfield.

Braga goalkeeper Lukas Hornicek is on Newcastle United’s radar, although the Premier League club are yet to make an offer for the Czech as they continue to assess other options on the market, according to Sky Sports.

Hornicek enjoyed an extremely impressive 2025/26 season for Braga, keeping 12 clean sheets across 33 Primeira Liga appearances, as the Minho club qualified for the Conference League. This campaign has prompted widespread interest in the shot-stopper from top-flight English clubs, including Newcastle and Hull City.

The Tigers reportedly had a significant offer for Honicek rejected, and the Magpies are now considering swooping in for the keeper.

The Braga number one has a £30 million release clause in his contract, and while this should theoretically make it easy for potential suitors to land him, no interested parties have yet chosen to activate this clause.

Newcastle Interested in Lukas Hornicek

Newcastle are looking to renovate their goalkeeper department this summer. Nick Pope is entering the latter stages of his career, while Aaron Ramsdale has returned to Southampton after his season-long loan on Tyneside.

James Trafford was a target for some time, although the north-east outfit have backed out of the race for the Manchester City star, with Leeds now said to be the frontrunners.

Reims keeper Ewen Jaouen has arrived in a £25 million deal, although Newcastle aren’t prepared to stop there, as they actively scour the market for another reinforcement in between the sticks.

Sky Sports journalist Keith Dowie indicates that the Magpies admire 6 ft 6 colossus Hornicek, although they’re yet to table a proposal for the 24-year-old.

Newcastle are still analysing various other candidates to fill this role in their squad, and the £30 million release clause in Hornicek’s contract means they can swoop in when needed, as long as someone else doesn’t get there first.

Newcastle Need to Sign Another Goalkeeper This Summer

Supporters might be bemused as to why Newcastle are looking for a second goalkeeper signing this summer. Eddie Howe’s squad is being ripped to shreds, with Sandro Tonali, Anthony Gordon and potentially Bruno Guimaraes all leaving, so allocating significant resources to this position might seem a bizarre choice from the outside.

However, this is rightfully deemed a priority position by the Tyneside hierarchy. Pope is no longer at the level required for a club with European aspirations and should be settling into a third-choice role as his career runs down.

Jaouen is a long-term investment. The former Reims man is only 20, and may not be ready to assume the number one position at St. James’ Park from the outset. Another name is needed to ensure the prodigy shot-stopper can integrate slowly and continue his development at a steady pace.